The present proposal covers an interdisciplinary field of chemistry, physical chemistry and physics. The work aims to address synthesis and complex study of a new class of liquid crystals composed of bent shaped molecules. The investigations extend to physico-chemical properties (identification of the phase sequence of the substances, textural characterization of the phases, determination of the phase transition temperatures, miscibility studies, etc.) as well as to the key intrinsic physical properties of the phases, such as flexoelectricity, ferroelectricity, electro-optics, special features of the structural phase transitions, rheological and/or viscoelastic properties, pattern forming instabilities.

The main goals of the project are:- study of the key intrinsic properties of the liquid crystal phases formed by bent-core molecules, and investigation of their response to applied fields and forces,- search for and characterize novel phenomena like polar nematic switching, consequences of giant flexoelectricity, novel pattern forming modes,- synthesis of new classes of bent-core molecules, - look for new technological applications.

Though the proposal has not been declared as an international project, the participants are internationally recognized scientists of the field with numerous contacts abroad and running collaborations. These will certainly be used also for the purpose to achieve the aims of the proposed research.

The research work during the project has been conducted in several directions according to the work plan of the proposal. The first step was the chemical synthesis of the desired materials which consisted of the design of the molecules, the finding of the synthetic rout and the actual production process of the compounds. In several subprojects mixtures have also been prepared from the pure compounds in order to be able to follow and understand some specific physical processes. The chemical work carried out during the project was very fruitful, a great number of mostly new substances have been synthesized. As a next step, the physico-chemical and the physical investigations followed, which have produced several original results and achievements as demonstrated by the large number of the publications and the impact factors of the journals. New experimental methods and theoretical models have been worked out. During the project 45 publications appeared with a cumulative impact factor of 103 (5.15 IF/MFt) and 96 conference contributions have been made at international meetings.